WASHINGTON -- A House committee is ready to try pressuring a central figure in the Internal Revenue Service investigation to answer lawmakers' questions, though she has already refused to do so.

Friday's planned vote by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was aimed at Lois Lerner. She was subpoenaed to testify to that committee in May, but when she appeared said she had done nothing wrong, declined to answer questions and left.

The Oversight Committee was expected to approve a resolution stating that she forfeited her right to remain silent by making opening remarks at last month's hearing.

Lerner was a high-ranking IRS official in Washington who oversaw the agency's Cincinnati workers who screened applications for tax-exempt status.

The IRS has apologized for imposing tough scrutiny on conservative groups who applied.